Northside Development Group excited to partner with the University of South Carolina’s business school to bring training to the Northside area for aspiring small business owners. Northside will be hosting a four week Introduction to Entrepreneurship workshop and a 14 week pilot training course in the spring of 2017. The fall workshop will be hosted by Bernell Ingram, an experienced small business coach, and will cover key topics for starting or running a small business.

The 14 week spring program is modeled after an Atlanta based program designed by Emory University. The program is structure to provide knowledge, networks, and capital for promising entrepreneurs in a specific geographic area. Throughout the sessions, participants will develop their business plan, learn about their customer, learn to present their business to lenders, and build relationships with the individuals who will support their business as it grows. At the end of the program, the participants will vote on the best businesses, and the two or three top businesses will be awarded a loan of up to $5,000.

This program will be open to Northside and the surrounding neighborhoods that are in the Cleveland Academy of Leadership’s attendance area. Potential applicants are encouraged to attend an info-session in October (details below). The application will be accepted beginning October 14th and ending on November 30th. For more information call 864-598-0097.